(a) The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. The finals involved 32 teams, of which 31 came through qualifying competitions, while the host nation qualified automatically.Of the 32 teams, 20 had also appeared in the previous tournament in 2014, while both Iceland and Panama made their first appearances at a FIFA World Cup.